I got my copy through my brother (yay!), and I'm gonna try to give it a genuine listen this weekend. I would like it to be great really, but the late SB hasn't been too convincing to be honest.
rumborak
Very true Rumbo but this one might change your mind. I think this is the best post Neil CD.
I definitely agree. There were some shining moments on the previous three albums ("Ghosts Of Autumn", "A Flash Before My Eyes", "As Far As The Mind Can See", and a few others), but this album shines pretty much ALL the way through from start to finish! There are some Neal-like moments on this album, and the lyrics are a return to some of the band's more obtuse and quirky lyrics, but also being a bit more real and serious, and even personal, but still very clever.
I think the band has finally settled on what they have been moving toward since Neal left the band.
Feel Euphoria was the band's experiment in lending everyone a hand in writing and contributing to the album since nearly all the music they recorded was Neal's, so I think they all had something they wanted to share and prove to us (the fans), and to each other within the band.
Octane was a bit more cohesive, and having the 31 minute piece was definitely a way for the band to come together and meld, but the shorter songs lacked a bit of that.
Spock's Beard saw them moving into more of the direction they sound most comfortable in, but again, some of the tracks were hits, and some were misses. On this, they finally find their feet and show us they can still pump out consistently good music!
And reading tons of reviews online, I find that some people gravitate to certain tracks and label them as favorites. The opening and closing numbers, as well as Nick's epic "From The Darkness" are, as far as I've seen, almost universally loved. Many reviewers have praised "The Quiet House", and it's growing on me, but I found it repetitive at first, so it was my least enjoyed song on the album (but it was still at a B-/B+ range). The other songs are generally well liked, especially Ryo's contribution, the instrumental "Kamikaze", which many fans and reviewers have said is the band's greatest instrumental (topping "NWC" and "Skeletons At The Feast"), and I'd be inclined to agree! "Their Names Escape Me" has to be one of MY favorites, and the lyrics work incredibly well with the concept of using the executive producers' names - it also helps that Nick puts on an AMAZING vocal performance. The other two tracks, "The Emperor's Clothes" and "The Man Behind The Curtain", both sound like they could've been pulled from
The Kindness Of Strangers or
Day For Night, which is entirely a good thing.
With all that in mind, I hope I'm not over-hyping or over-praising the album to the point of higher expectations... I don't want anyone to listen to this album expecting a masterpiece, but to listen with open ears and minds, and enjoy what the band has worked hard on over the last year and take it all for what it is - great music by four (and more) great musicians and writers.
-Marc.
Topic: Spock's Beard (Read 146703 times)
